Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we talk to the leaders and visionaries who refuse to settle for 'good enough.' Today, we’re tackling a psychological trap that captures thousands of high-performing professionals every single year. It’s called 'The Dependence Dilemma'. That invisible ceiling of financial obligations and the false sense of security that keeps brilliant people stuck in survival mode.

Our guest today is a man who didn't just break that ceiling; he shattered it. He started in the classroom as a high school math teacher, crunching numbers just to make ends meet. But he decided to stop playing it safe and started playing it big.

That shift led him to found a direct sales empire that has cleared over a billion dollars in global sales. He is a world-renowned philanthropist, a cancer survivor who turned his battle into a multi-million-dollar research mission, and the author of the transformative new book, Life of Your Dreams.

He’s here to show us that the gap between where you are and where you want to be isn't a matter of luck—it’s a matter of mindset and seven specific, transformative steps. Join me for my conversation with Mark Pentecost.

Guest Bio:

Mark Pentecost went from being a high school teacher to becoming a billionaire, a nationally-recognized philanthropist, and a world-renowned thought leader.

From founding a direct sales company that has surpassed over a billion dollars in sales globally, to surviving cancer (and donating millions of dollars toward cancer research along the way), Mark knows just how precious life is and has dedicated his own life to helping other people achieve their dreams.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://pentecostgroup.com/our-story/
2. Product Link: https://pentecostgroup.com/life-of-your-dreams-book/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:50 In your new book, Life of Your Dreams

03:04 I was one of those guys always reading a book

05:29 He said, if you don't do something different, in 20 years, you're going to be doing the same thing with the same issues

08:19 My daughter had come and said, D ad, we've got to tell your story

11:18 I didn't know I was an entrepreneur until later in life

12:55 If you're not happy then nobody around you is happy

16:41 He (my grandpa) would say, Mark, you can't force a horse to drink, but you can salt the oats

17:11 I have a whole chapter on Say It and See it

19:22 Being a CEO was like a head coach

21:01 I decided to live on the offence, and that changed everything

23:33 I would start naming our issues

25:00 I realized sometimes my greatest strength was my greatest weakness

27:39 Do you have a rudder on your ship or is the wind just blowing you wherever you go?

29:37 My point today is if you really want something, there's ways to do it

29:55 in the book, I call it Grit-Q. What is, I don't care about your IQ, what's your Grit-Q?

30:58 I think dreaming is like a muscle, the more you dream, the bigger it gets

33:17 Life's full of pivots

34:50 I always say the dream you're most proud, is the one you're afraid to say out loud

36:12 You know, the scariest day and the best day of my life was the day I...

SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 11

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast that arms you with the strategies to stop chasing and start attracting your ideal clients! I’m your host, Michael Vickers, and if you're a business professional or entrepreneur, you know the struggle: you have an incredible service, but cutting through the noise to establish yourself as the trusted authority feels impossible.

Today, we are tackling the single most powerful B2B platform: LinkedIn. It’s time to stop using your profile as a dusty online resume and start transforming it into a definitive lead generation engine. Our guest and his team have cracked the code on building genuine authority and measurable revenue through a high-conversion LinkedIn strategy. He's here to share the secrets to becoming the preferred provider in your niche.

We’re diving into everything: from the critical shift your profile must make, to the high-converting framework for direct messaging, and Shay's simple, actionable advice you can implement today.

Get ready to take notes, because this episode is how you master the art of B2B LinkedIn. Join me for my conversation with Shay Thieberg!

Guest Bio:

Shay is the Co-Founder of MAIA Digital - a LinkedIn Marketing Agency. Specializing in LinkedIn marketing, Shay holds a Masters degree in Social Psychology & Decision-Making. Shay is among 30 Global LinkedIn Certified Experts and Faculty members at Reichmann University where he teaches “B2B Marketing for Tech”.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://team-maia.com/
2. Product Link: https://team-maia.com/b2b-linkedin-strategy/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:31 That was a lesson that I learned by myself that I can control my own life and path

05:21 My ADHD is my superpower

07:43 LinkedIn picked me

10:07 So, we're calling it the LinkedIn trifecta

11:33 The only thing that I did is post valuable insightful tips, hacks, and content for people to be able to use

17:16 I'm calling it T to B: Trust to Business

18:43 He wrote the post, I'm riding his wave, but I'm writing a thoughtful comment

23:00 I built a program that analyzes your entire LinkedIn analytics

24:37 And it's got to be authentic and you've got to be transparent with it

25:58 Stop thinking about posting content and start thinking about sharing your thoughts

28:58 I'm also a certified psychologist

34:36 People want to purchase, they don't want to be sold

38:10 The main two mistakes that people actually do...

39:21 Try to diversify your content because eventually people buy from people

41:17 I'm measuring my LinkedIn success, my ROL (Return On LinkedIn) by the amount of messages that I'm getting in my inbox

46:30 The website is team-maia.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shay-thieberg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MAIA.DIGITAL.LINKEDIN

YouTube:

SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 9

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we help you become preferred in the markets you serve. If you thought the flower business was quaint, slow, or low-tech, get ready for a wake-up call. Our guest today is Michael Jacobson, CEO of French Florist. He didn't just take over an old business; he engineered a dramatic transformation. Starting from a struggling $600,000 operation, he built a high-performance franchise model that now generates millions in annual revenue and triples the profitability of traditional flower shops. Michael’s mastery is the fusion of timeless artistry with modern operational technology.

In this episode, Michael is going to share his framework on how to spot a broken business model ready for 10x growth and how to design a high-tech performance franchise that protects quality while maximizing margins.

If you’re ready to learn how to apply disruptive tech and scalable systems to any industry, old or new, you’ve come to the right place. Join me for my conversation with Michael Jacobson.

Guest Bio:

What’s possible in one of the world’s oldest industries. Under Michael Jacobson's leadership, French Florist has transformed the traditional flower shop model by putting technology, innovation, and operational excellence at the heart of its franchise system. The results speak for themselves: French Florist franchise locations generate triple the revenue of standard flower shops—while operating at higher margins.

With a career spanning entrepreneurship, investment, and leadership, Michael is passionate about helping the next generation of business owners succeed through entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA). He brings a fresh perspective to how small business ownership can be reinvented for the modern age, leveraging digital tools, streamlined operations, and strong brand strategy to unlock sustainable growth.

Michael’s mission is simple: to empower franchise owners with a proven system that blends timeless beauty with cutting-edge innovation. Whether speaking about the future of franchising, how technology reshapes consumer-facing industries, or why flowers are a surprisingly powerful business opportunity, Michael shares candid insights that inspire entrepreneurs to think bigger and build smarter.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://www.frenchflorist.com
2. Product Link: https://frenchfloristfranchise.com/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:53 I found that intersection between how to live a purposeful life and a life full of intentionality

09:08 We're in the business of love

10:02 You've coined a phrase, entrepreneurship through acquisition and creative playbook

12:27 We want to build something for the world that's kind of fun and cool

19:33 It was really cool, just solving actual real pain points

20:01 The root of everything is how do we enhance the client experience?

25:16 As a franchisor, our primary responsibility is creating a community of owners

26:49 95% of startups fail

27:43 What I look for is what's your why?

29:23 How do you avoid getting distracted by shiny objects?

30:35 Saying no is more important than saying yes

31:39 Tom Peters, who's the management guru, who wrote In Search of Excellence

34:56 What we want to do from a feelings...